Paper making process and machine



Jan. 10, 1933. po 1,893,678

PAPER MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 10, 1933. E, POIRIER 1,893,678

PAPER MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST POIRIER, OF WATERVILLE, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF TTWENTYJ'IVE ONE- HUNDREDTHS TO JOHN W. STOBIE, OF WATERVILLE,

PAiER MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Application filed September. 16, 1931. Serial no. 563,038."

This invention relates to themanufacture of paper and paper articles. It aims ,to improve both the processes of and also the apparatus for making paper with a view to facilitating the control'of the process and more especially to reducing the variations in the thickness or weight of the paper due to variations in the consistency of the paper making stock.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus embodying the present invention' Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a vertical,'sectional view of said apparatus; and I Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view through the gates of the apparatus illustrated in the other figures.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a head box 2, this head box belng provided with a partition 3 which d1v1des 1t 1nto two main sections, and with a weir 4 which divides one of these sections into two chambers a and b. This arrangement is similar to those used heretofore to feed pulp to a paper machine. Obviously any equivalent device may be substituted for it. Paper making stock or pulp is pumped into the' chamber a through an inlet opening 03, and the surplus overflows the weir 4 into the chamber 6 where it drains through an outlet 6 and is led back to the supply tank, the

weir serving to maintain an approximately constant head in the chamber a. A curved pipe 5 leadsthrough the partition 3 and connects the inlet chamber a with the discharge chamber 0 so that approximately a constant level of stock is maintained in the latter chamber. In the front wall of the box a discharge outlet 6 is provided through which the stock flows into pipe connections which lead it to the paper making wire or other apparatus on which the paper is made. A

common arrangement is to pump the stock discharged through the outlet 6 through a pulp screen and then'to deliver the screened .stock directly to the wire of a Fourdrinier machine. The head box also is provided with a gate 8 for adjusting the size or area of the outlet 6, the gate being slidable inguides 99 at the front of the box." Any suitable means may be provided for adjusting the gate vertically. As shown, this adjusting means comprises a rod 10 secured to the gate and having a threaded upper end portion projecting through a horizontal bracket 12 sheet or web should be produced. As is well understood by those skilled in this art, the paper making stock or pulp consists of a very high percentage of water with a relatively small percentage of solid constituents such as fibre, fillers, and the like, suspended in the water. A very common cause of variations in the thickness or weight of the sheet of paper being made in the machine is the fact that the consistency of the stock changes while the machine is running. As soon as the machine attendant observes that a thicker or thinner web is being produced, he makes proper changes, usually by adjusting the 'gate 8, to compensate for the variation in the concentration of solid constituents in the stock. The necessity for making such adjustments, however, calls for close attention and a high degree of skill on the part of the machine attendant. The present invention deals particularly with these considerations.

I have found that when the stock becomes thinner, or in other words, the concentration of solid constituents is reduced, the stream of stock flowing through the outlet 6 changes somewhat in shape, the stream becoming somewhat longer and its curve being. more gradual. On the other hand, when the stock becomes thicker, or the proportion of solid constituents is greater, the stream shortens and the curve is somewhat sharper.

' The present invention makes use of this fact. It utilizes variations in the consistency of the stock to control the rate of delivery of the stock from the head box in such a manner as to maintain an approximately constant rate of delivery of solid constituents, notwithstanding variations in the consistency of the stock. It is contemplated that this control may be effected in a considerable variety of ways, as for example, by changing the head of the stock in the head box 2, or by changing the size of the outlet 6 so that the rate of delivery of the stock, that is, the volume delivered in a unit of time, will be cor respondingly changed. The constructlon shownin the drawings is designed to adjust the size of the discharge outlet 6.

This arrangement comprises a device 15 which, as shown, has the form of an inverted scoop for engaging the stream of stock issuing from the discharge outlet 6 of the head box. This device is pivoted at 16 to a bracket 17 which is secured to the gate 8 for vertical adjustment, as clearly shown in Flg. A supplemental gate 18 is arranged to slide in the guides 9 just in front of the main gate 8 and overlapping this gate. It is connected to the device 15 by a link 19 so that as the 35 part 15 swings up or down, it will adjust'the supplemental gate 18 to close the discharge opening 6 more or less, depending upon the position which the stream of pulp flowing through this opening causes the member 15 to take. Inasmuch as the position which the device 15 is caused to assume depends upon the shape or contour of the stream of pulp discharged from the head box, this member will be hereinafter referred to as a vane. It will be clear from an inspection of the drawings that the vane will be swung outwardly away from the outlet 6 by its contact with the stream of pulp, and that the farther outwardly it is moved the wider will be the opening 6. If, therefore, the machine is adjusted for making a web of a satisfactory weight or thickness and the stock suddenly becomes thicker, the stream will be shortened, as above described, thus causing the vane 15 to swing inwardly and thereby closing the opening 6 correspondingly. This reduces the volume of stock flowing through the opening in a given unit of time, or in other words, reduces the rate of flow of pulp to the wire. Due to the fact, however, that the stock is thicker or contains a higher concentration of solid constituents,.the rate of delivery of such solid constituents to the wire will remain approximately unchanged, not- 65 withstanding the reduced volume of pulp.

Consequently, the thickness or weight of the I to the wire; but since the stock carries a. lower concentration of fibre and other solid constituents, the total quantity of such constituents delivered to the wire in a given unit of time remains approximately unchanged.

In order to permit adjustment oftheoperative relationship between the supplemental gate 18 and the vane 15, the vane is slotted, as shown at 20, to permit adjustment of the pivot bolt for the link 19 in a direction toward or from the axis 16 on which the vane swings. A shower pipe, indicated at 21 in Fig. 3, usually is provided to direct a spray on the upper surfaces of the vane to keep it and adjacentparts substantially free from accumulations of fibre.

It has been definitely determined in practice that the arrangement above described substantially improves the evenness or uniformity of the sheet or web of paper being made. The apparatus is entirely automatic in its action, and because of this fact it substantially reduces the care and skill required on the part of the machine attendant. At the same time it can be adjusted readily to suit different thicknesses or weights of paper to be made. The vane follows the contour of the stream of pulp very closely. It has broad surfaces to engage this stream and there is ample power in the flowing stock to operate through the vane in the manner above described.

For many purposes the apparatus above described is entirely. satisfactory. It is a common practice, however, to recirculate a considerable part of the .white water with the new stock flowing to the wire, partly for the purpose of thinning the stock, and more especially for the purpose of recovering part of the fillers, sizing, and other solid constituents of the stock which go through the wire. When this practice is followed it is necessary for the machine tender to adjust the volume of the white water which he allows to flow on to the wire in accordance with variations in the consistency of the stock and other operating conditions. In some cases the stock will become too quick, or, in other words, the water will leave the sheet too quickly, while at other times the stock will tend to run too slow; that is, the water will not leave the sheet quickly enough. Either of these conditions ordinarily must be corrected by manual adj ustment of the-white water or the new stock, or both. I have found that the movements of the vane 15 can be utilized to control the volume of white water as well as of the new stock. The arrangement shown in the drawingsis designed for this purpose.

.Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that a second head box 24 is mounted immediately below the upper box 2, and that it is divided by aweir 25 into inlet and overflow chambers f and g, respectively. Thewhite water is pumped into the chamber f, overflows the weir g, and the surplus is drained away, the weir maintaining an approximately constant head in the chamber f. A discharge outlet 26 for the white water leads from the latter chamber. The size of this outlet may be adjusted by means of a gate 27 mounted to slide across the aperture 26 in guides similar to those provided on the upper box. Two links 28 pivoted at their lower ends to the gate 27 are extended upwardly past the opposite sides of the vane 15 and are pivotally connected thereto by bolts which pass through the slots 20.

It will be clear that with this arrangement the swinging movements of the vane 15 will be transmitted to the gate 27 and will close or open this gate'more or less, thus automatically changing the volume of white water discharged into the stream of pulp in response to changes in the consistency of said pulp or stock. In the particular arrangement shown the volume of white water is varied inversely with that of the pulp discharged from the upper head box. This is the arrangement more commonly required because if the stock runs too slow it will require less white water, and vice versa, the slow stock will liftv the vane 15, thus automatically opening the.

gate 18 somewhat and partially closing the white water gate 27'. On the other hand, if the stock tends to run too free, the vane 15 will drop, thus partially closing the auxiliary stock gate 18 and opening the white water gate 27 somewhat wider.

It should perhaps be noted that only a part of the white water going to the wire usually is circulated through the head box 24. If it is desired to reverse the arrangement shown, and to have the gates 18 and 27 work simultaneously in the same direction, this can be done by sliding the gate 27 upwardly into the upper portions of its guides and into such a position that it will work across the upper edge of the opening 26 instead of the lower edge, this adjustment being permitted by the fact that the upper ends of the links 28 have holes punched through them to permit a wide range of vertical adj ustment of the links relatively to the vane.

The head box shown in Figs. 2 and 3 also is of novel construction. It will be observed that the pipe 5 which leads the stockfrom the inlet chamber a into the discharge chamber 0 is curved upwardly and that it is of smaller cross-sect1onal area than the inlet pipe d. This means that the flow of stock into the chamber 0 will be impeded slightly.

- A gate 30 also is mounted in suitable guides to slide across the intake, end of this pipe and is connected with a rod 31 so that the gate can be adjusted to close this intake end more or less. As the consistency of the stock increases,

its flow through the pipe 5 into the discharge tween the pipe 5 and the outlet.

Preferably, also, an aperture 32 is provided through the partition 3 between the overflow chamber 1) and the discharge chamber 0 close- 1y adjacent to the bottom of the box, this aperture normally being closed by a gate 33 arranged to be operated by a screw 34. This gate arrangement is like that'provided in the chamber a. It is useful in flushing out the head box in changing from one kind of stock to another.

The lower head box 24 can be used not-only to handle the white water but clear water, if

desired, or any other liquid which is to be mixed with the pulp flowing through the upper head box.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied-in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Also, that while the paper mak ng surface to which the stock is delivered has herein been referred to chiefly as a wire, it is immaterial, so far as this invention is concerned, whether this surface is a wire or a paper making surface of some other form. The term wire, therefore, is herein used in the claims in a generic sense to include other paper making surfaces.

This application is a continuation in part of my pending application Serial No. 459,033, filed June 3, 1930.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. That improvement in methods of feeding paper stock to a paper making wire which consists in causing Variations in the shape of a stream of the stock flowing to the wire to effect such adjustments of the rate of delivery of stock to the wire as to maintain an approximately constant rate of delivery of solid constituents of the stock notwithstanding variations in its consistency.

2. That improvement in methods of feed- .consists in causing variations in the shape of a stream of the stock flowing to the Wire to produce such adjustments 0 the cross sectional area of said stream as to maintain an 7 approximately constant rate of delivery of solid constituents of the stock in said stream notwithstanding variations in the consistency of said stock. I

4. That improvement in methods of feeding paper stock to a paper making Wire which consists in causing variations in the shape of a stream of the stock flowing to the wire to so adjust the rate of delivery of said stock to the wire as to reduce substantially the variaions in the delivery of the solid constituents ofthe stock which otherwise would be caused by variations in the consistency of the 'stock'.

adjust the rate of delivery of said stock to I the wire as to reduce substantially the varia-' 5. That improvement ingmethods of feeding paper stock to a paper making wire which consists in causing variations in the shape of a stream of the stock flowing to the wire to so tions in the delivery'of the solid constituents of the stock which otherwise would be caused by variations in the consistency of the stock, adding water continuously to said stream,

and causing said variations in the shape of said stream to control the amount of Water so added.

6, In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with ahead box having a stock deliveryoutlet through which a stream of stock may flow, of a device for engaging said stream without substantially in the position of said device.

I having-an outletfor astream of stock, of a impeding the flow ofthe stream, means supporting said device for movement into different positions determined by theshape of said stream, and means under the control of said'device for changing-the volume of flow of stock from said box in response to changes 7. In an apparatus of the'character described, the combination with a head box vane for on aging said stream, means suporting sai mto different positions determined by the action thereon of said stream, and means for causing movements of said vane to effect adjustments in the volume of flow of stock from said box to vary the rate of flow inversely witliI variations in the concentration of the stoc vane to swing in a fixed path 8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box having an outlet for a stream of stock, of a vane for engaging said stream without substantially' impeding the fiow of said stock, means supporting said vane for movement into different positions by said stream, and a gate for adjusting the size of said outlet, said gate being connected with said vane to cause changes in the position of the vane to adjust said gate.

. 9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box havingan outlet for a stream'of stock, of a vane for engaging said stream, means supporting said vane for swinging inovement in a fixed path due to the action thereon ofsaid stream, a gate for adjusting the size of said outlet, and connections between said vane and said gate for'ca-using changes in the position .of

said vane to effect adjustments of said gate.

10. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination with a head box having a stock delivery outlet through which a v stream of stock may be discharged, of a vane for engaging said stream, a gate for adjusting the size of said'outlet, and connections between said gate and said vane for causing outward movements of'the vane away from said outlet to mcrease the size of said outlet, and inward movements of said vane to decrease the size of said outlet.

, 11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box having a stock delivery outlet through which a stream of stock may be discharged, of a vane for engaging said stream, a gate connected with said vane for adjusting the size of said outlet in response to changes in the position of said vane, and connections between said vane and said gateadjustable to change the voperative relationship'between the vane and the gate. 7 I a 12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box having a stock delivery outlet, a vane for engaging the stream of stock flowing through said outlet, means supporting said vane for swinging movement whereby the position taken by the vane will vary with changes in the shape of said stream, a gate mounted for adjustment to vary the size of said outlet, and connections between said vane and said gate for causing changes in the position of said vane to adjust said gate.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box having astock delivery outlet, a vane for engaging the stream of stock flowing through said outlet, means supporting said vane for swinging movement whereby thesposition taken by the vanewill vary with changes in the shape of said stream, a main gate adjustable to vary the area of said outlet, a supplemental gate adjustable independently of said main gate through said outlet, means for supporting said vane on' said main gatefor swinging movement about a horizontal axis adjacent to the upper edge of said outlet whereby the position taken by said vane will vary with changes in the shape of saidstream, a supplemental gate adj ustableindependently of said main gate to change the area of said outlet, and connections between said'vane and said supplemental gate for causing changes in theposition of said vane to adjust said supplemental gate.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with ahead box having a stock delivery outlet, a vane for engaging the stream of stock flowing through said outlet, means supporting said vane for movement into diflerent positions determined by the action thereon of said stream, means under the control of said vane for changing the volume of flow of stock from said box in response to changes in the position of said vane, means operative to supply water continuously to said stream, and additional means under the control of said vane for governing the quantity of water so supplied.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box in response to changes in the position of said vane.

. 17. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box having a stock delivery outlet, a vane for engaging the stream of stock flowing through said outlet, means supporting said vane for swinging movement wherebythe position taken by the vanewill vary with changes in the shape 18. In an ap ara'tus of the character described, the com ination with a head box having a stock delivery outlet, a vane for engaging the stream of stock flowing through said outlet, means supporting said va-ne for swinging movement whereby the position taken by the vane will vary with changes in the shape of said stream, a gate adjustable to vary the size of said outlet, means for adding water continuously to said stream. a device adjustable to control the amount of water so added,-

and connections between said vane and said gate and between said vane and said device for causing changes in the position of said vane to adjust both said gate and said device, said connections being adjustable to change the operative relationship of said vane to said gate and said device. z

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a head box having a stock delivery outlet, a vane for engaging the stream of stock flowing through said outlet, means supporting said vane for swinging movement whereby the position taken by the vane will vary with changes in the shape of said stream, a gate mounted for adjustment to vary the size of said outlet, connections between said vane and said gatefor causing changes in the'position of said vane to adjust said gate, a second head box located below the first head box and having. a discharge outlet, a gate for adjusting the size of the latter'outlet, and connections between the last'mentioned gate and said vane for causing the changes in the position ofsaid vane to adjust said last mentioned gate.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a head box having a partition dividing it into two main sections, a weirdividing one of said sections into inlet and overflow chambers, respectively, the other section forming a discharge chamber, means for conducting stock into said inletchamber, a curved pipe extending through said partition for conducting-stock from said inlet chamber into said discharge chamber, and a discharge outlet leading from said discharge chamber, the end of said pipe in said discharge chamber being directed away from said discharge olitlet.

21. In an apparatus of'the cha-racterdescribed, the combination of a head box having a partition dividing it into two main sections, a weir dividing one, of said sections into inlet and overflow chambers, respectively, the other section forming a discharge chamber, means for conducting stock into said inlet chamber, an aperture extending through said partition for conducting stock from said inlet chamber into said discharge chamber, and

charge chamber at a point remote from said aperture.

122'. In an apparatus of the character de-.

scribed, the combination of a head box hav- 'a discharge outlet leading from said dising a partition dividing it into two main sections, a weir dividing one of said sections into inlet and overflow chambers, respectively,

the other section forming a discharge chamber, means for conducting stock into said inletchamber, apertures through said partition providing communication between said discharge chamber and said inlet and overflow chambers, and gates for closing-saidapertures.

23. In an apparatus of the character de- I scribed, the combination of a head box having a partition dividing it into inlet and dis- I charge compartments, means for conductingv stock into said inlet compartment, a weir in the latter compartment over which the surplus stock flows, means for conducting stock compartment, a device for engaging the stream of stock discharged through said dischar e outlet without substantially impeding the ow ot the stream,'means'supportingisaid device for movement into diiferent posltions determined by the shape of said stream, and means under the control of said device for varying the volume of stock discharged through said outlet automatically inresponse to changes in the position of said device.

ERNEST POIRIER.

from saidinlet compartment to saiddischarge compartment but shaped and propor tioned to automatically vary the rate of flow of the stock into said dischargecompartment in responsexto variations in the consistency of the stock, a discharge outlet leading from said ing a partition dividing it into inlet and discharge compartments, means for conducting stock into said inlet compartment, a weir in the latter compartment over which the surplus stock flows, means for conducting stock from said inlet compartment to said dis- "charge compartment but shaped and proportioned to automatically vary the rate of flow of the stock into said discharge compartment in response. to variations in the consistency of Y the stock, a discharge outlet leading from said discharge compartment, a vane for engaging the stream of stock discharggd from said discharge outlet, means supporting said vane v for movement into difi'erent positions determined by the contour, of. said stream, and

, means for causing the movements of said vane to eflFect adjustments in the volume of flow of stock through said outlet to vary the rate of said flow inversely with variations in the concentration of the stock.

' 25. In an apparatusof the character described, the combination of a head box hav-.

ing a partition dividing it into inlet and dis charge compartments, means for conducting stock into said inlet compartment, a weir in the latter compartment over which the surplus'stock flows, a curved pipe for conducting stock from. said inlet compartment into said'd'ischarge compartment, said pipe being so shaped and proportioned as .to vary the rate of flow of stock into said discharge compartment automatically in response to variations in the consistency of the stock, a discharge outlet leading from said discharge 

